Carpet sewing machine



Nov. 20, 1.951 M. F. ASHLEY ETAL CARPET SEWING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 23, 1948 8 e 9 rum m wnm a w b 1 -rnF m f e V Q HK v w e 1 nr w m w mm a Nov. 20, 1951 M. F. ASHLEY ETAL 2,575,327

CARPET SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1948 9 SheetsSheet 2 InventorsMerwin F AshLay Edward W FarLrLg Bi their Attorney 1951 M. F. ASHLEY ETAL CARPET SEWING MACHINE Filed ,Jan. 25, 1 948 9 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventors Merwin FAShZe Edward W Far'i Nov. 20, 1951 M. F. ASHLEY ETAL2,575,327

CARPET SEWING MACHINE 7 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inu entorsMerwin E f Ashley Edward W Fearing By their Attorney Gama 6,311

1951 M. F. 'ASHLEY 'EIAL' CARPET SEWING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJan. 23, 1948 Inventors Mezwm F Ashley 5; ihezr AHorneZ Nov. 20, 1951 M.F. ASHLEY EI'AL 2, 7

CARPET SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1948 9 .Sheets-Sheet e In ven torswMe-rwin FAshley Edward WF-aring By their Atzorney I 1951 M. F. ASHLEYETAL. 2, 7

- CARPET SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 v 3 I Q 4 ve nuentors'.

' lverwl nF Ashl Edward Fe'an'ng By i'heir/Iiiorney Nqv. 20, 1951 M. F.ASHLEY ETAL 2,575,327

CARPET SEWING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 23, 1948 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 9lnverzbfions Mr'wiryFAShZe-y Edward WRarz'ng iheirAizorne- Patented Nov.20, 1951 CARPET SEWING MACHINE Merwin F. Ashley, Arlington, and EdwardW. Fearing, Quincy, Mass., assignors to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Flemington', N. J acorporation of New Jersey ApplicationJanuary 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,914,

48 Claims.

The present invention relates to sewing machines constructed andarranged to connect strips of carpet material disposed in a loosepreliminaryfashion upon a floor surface as a ste in laying" the carpetpermanently over a large area and more particularly to an ambulantmachine The usual 'method of laying and sewing car- Y pets is to providestrips cut with the proper lengths and with designs to match, sufficientin number to cover the floor to be carpeted. When large areas are beingcarpeted these strips have heretofore been sewntogether wholly'by handalong their meeting edges with' a'workman in sitting position betweenseparated portions of the V edges, the bulk of the carpet being toomassive for convenient transportation in a single united piece. As thesewing progresses the workman inches himself along while holding theedges raised from the floor sufficiently to allow manipulation of aneedle at the underside of the carpet. At best the work is a slowtedious hand process, requiring special skill and onerous musculareffort on the part of the workman. To avoid the trouble and expense ofhand sewing, resort is;

sometimes made to the useof adhesive-tape for attaching carpet edgestogether. The use of ad-- hesive tape suficiently heavy to fasten thecarpet together, however, may cause the edges to.v

bulge or to form unsightly ridges or may not be durable. At best all theoperations of such processes are manual and are subject toirregularities. Also, for acceptable results expert and experiencedworkmanship are required.

To reduce as much as possible a reliance on manual operations, carpetstrips have heretofore been sewn together by a machine having a guiderail to which the carpet edges are clamped and along which a framecarrying the sewing mechanisms moves. Guide railmachines, besides beingof heavy cumbersome construction, require clamping the carpet edges inregistering relation so that a flat position cannot be maintained on afloor surface. After sewing the carpet edges in registering relationthey are opened out to bring them into fiat abutting relation. Themovement of carpet strips in this way requires special handling andsubjectsthe stitches and carpet to ex- 9 cessive strains before itislaid on the floor surface. a A V The objects of the present inventionare toreduce to a minimum all manual operations in laying carpets,handling of the carpet material being avoided other than laying stripsupon a floor surface in approximate positions at which they are to restand to provide a machine which will; be subject to accurate control byan inexperienced operator while attaching the edges of an as, jacentpair of flexible 'strips. of material together securely in abuttingrelation, the production of visible irregularities being avoided and aseam being inserted comparing favorably in uniformity of appearance withthe highest quality of hand sewn work. Other objectspf the invention areto simplify-and improve sewing and fastening machines of the typewhichare movable over stationary work piec'es-to -secure the workpiecestogether and to provide a machine by which car pets and otherheavy material of large area may be sewn together conveniently andsecurely in I the positions in which they are to lie permanently. 7 h VV a a In the illustrated embodiment of the inven tion an ambulantfastening machine is arranged to traversefreely in a progressive manner.along a supporting surface between two strips of carpet or otherflexible-sheet material disposed with their edges inabutting relationand with their tread surfaces up, said machine having ashallow, baseshaped for raising the edges from the sup porting surface to. enable thebase to pass-be: tween them and a completeset of fastening' and feedingdevices mounted wholly in said basetg apply fastenings atthesupporting-surface side j to the raised portions of the sheet material.hereinafter described the fastening 'devicesare;, actuated by mechanismsprojecting from the base which preferably is wedge shaped and has atrail: ing .end of tapering thickness, within which are mountedconnections spaced fromthe point of; application of the fastenings inline with the edges of the sheet-mate rial. In the illustrated form ofthis feature a narrow column is provided along the mid-section of thebase surrounding the connections and forms a mounting for the actuatingm echanis.'ms.- V V 7 The invention also includescertain novel con-.-structions, combinations, and arrangement of, parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed, as for, e a ov mea s raw n the tr ps dsewisetoward each other;at thepoint-of fastening operations, a troughformationin; the base Wiilli in which the fastening devices operate andother; features, the advantages of which will be appar-; ent to thoseskilledin the art from the following description taken in connectionwiththe accom panying drawings which illustrate a specific em= bodiment ofthe several features of the invention.

Re r i atp We rawi s -I a,

the machine illustrated in Fig. la with parts broken away and shown insection;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the ma; chine of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary View of a cam employed in the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plangview of the base of the ach ne:

Fig. '5' is a partial lengthwise section of the taperingtrailing end ofthe base of the machine;

Fig. 6' is a detailview on an enlarged scale talg'enalong the lineVI-Vl? of'Fig.

Fig. 7 is a detail view taken along the line vii-v11 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 7; r

Fig. 9- is a sectional view of the base taken along the line IX-IX ofFig. 5;

Fig. 10 1s a sectional detail view of a driven carpet feed roll takenalong the line X-X of Fig. 9; I

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken from the right side of the parts shownin Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of the presser footjactuatingmechanism of the machine taken along theline XIL-JCII of'Fig. 1;

Figs; 13 and 14' are detail views illustrating a manner of" stitchformation in the machine, Fig. 13- showing the step of tightening thelooper thread and Fig. 14 the step of' tightening the needle thread;

Fig. 15 is an end view of a seam inserted by the machine including atape reenforcement applied during sewing;

Fig. 16 is a sectionalview on an enlarged scale taken along the lineXVIXVI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 17 is'a similar view on a" further enlarged scale'taken along theline XVII-XVII of- Fig. l as seen from a plane passing through thesewing point;

Fig. 18 is a similar view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 5;and

Fig". 19 is a plan view of an enlarged scale of the taperedtrailing-end; of-the base of the ma' v chine with the cover for thestitch forming devices removed.

The illustrated machine is intended primarily forfastening operationsupon adjacent strips of carpet material presented tread side up toeliminate most of the hand sewing or other handlingwork in layingcarpets, with close and accurate control afforded to an operator both inapplying fastenings in the form of a continuous thread seam and inpulling the edges of the-carpet strips edgewise together in aprogressive manner during the sewing operation. For this purposethemachine is constructed in a readilyambulant material. Thus. afterfinishing the sewing operation; no further adjustments'or'onerous effortare required to bring the completed carpetinto the desired positionalong the floor surface.

In preparing for a sewing operation, strips ofcarpet are laidwith theiredges inapproximate abutting relation over the entire floor area tobecarpeted. The machine is motor driven and sub;- ject to manualpropulsion through a pair of con- 4 trol handles 2 and 4 which permitthe operator to assume an upright posit nap which he can observe closelythe sewing operations on the edges of a pair of abutting carpet strips.The handles 2 and 4 rise from a flat bottomed base 8 on which themechanisms for the machine are mounted, With the illustrated machine thecar- 'pet strips will; be matched for alinement of designs as inhandsewing and the machine will be inserted between theedges of thestrips as closely as possible to" the strip ends, the machine facingaway-from the ends. The base both raises and separates the edges inadvance of the point of operation and then they are brought positivelyinto abutting relation at the point of sewing operation.

To enable the edges of abutting carpet stripsto be raised by themachine'without disturbin the positions of the strips alongthefloor-surface;

indicated at 8, on which the strips lie, according I not extend the fulllength of the base. and the;

ed s fr ew arpe r ne. o era edupon ex en alone he es h c lumns. he w d hf t ecolumn a vers y he, arn t str v e e s made sufficiently small tofit between the sepa-. rated edges of the strips as they areraised fromthe floor surface by t e, a taturasseetm them excessivekvv Or requiringedgewise movement, of the carpet strips along the floor surface to bringthem thereafter 'int o edge abutting "relanon." With such'dimensionsf'the base and column pass between the" separated edges} asthe stitch forming devices operate 'at a point spaced along the carpetedges from the column in line with the direction of progress alongthecarpet edges. The trailing, end of the base contains within it allthe elements of a complete set of stitch forming devices necessary toform a seam at the supporting floor surface; side of'thecarpet stripsand has a tapering thickness projecting to the rear of the column to;enable the carpetstrips to be brought downwardly together into line withthe stitch-formingdevices-at the point ofoperation thereof and finallyagainst the'floor' surface without the formation ofbulgesorextreme'curvatures in the carpet material as the basemoves-between thematerial and the floor surface. Thebase 6slidesalongthefioor; s .1r.-.v face at its trailing. endand its weightis supported by. anti-friction casters H. at. its. leading; end (seeFig. 1).

For assistance in propelling the edgesof. the.

carpet strips inthe novelmachine it is fedrela; lytothe b insca net d sby. ower; om h o or. rive, ur n ewmatbe. a et ed s.-

ins drawn, to nd. al ne" he, id o a.

V with the trough l2.

blind with the chain of the seam exposed at the underside of one stripof carpet and the single thread exposed along the. underside of theother strip. During operation of the stitch forming devices the carpetedges are held clamped within the trough by a presser foot l8 consistingofa pointed block screwed to a yoke 20,,riveted to the ends of a pair ofparallel arms 22 rotatable at their rearward ends about a pin 524passing horizontally through the column; I

Cooperating withthe presser foot 58 in clamping the abutting carpetedges immovably against each other close to the sewing point, to feedthe edges after each stitch is inserted and to assist in drawing theedges toward each other and away from the column l into firmengagementwith the centering fin on the plate i6,.the base is pro: videdalong the sides of the trough l2 in advance of the sewing point with apair of angular oppo sitely disposed guideways 26 within the plate Itand the shell of the base for receiving apair ot roughened carpetengaging feed slides 23 having their forward ends approaching closely tothe sewing point. The angularly disposed guideways cause the feed slides28 to move in converging paths toward the sewing point, producing adrawing action on the carpet edges toward each other as they are fed.

Cooperating with the roughened portions of the feed slides to feed thecarpet edges are a pair of: yieldingly mounted feed feet at in the formof blocks secured to the lower ends of a hairpinshaped spring 32 havinga sleeve 34 clamped by a bolt 36 between the central portions of itsarms. The sleeve 34 is loosely received on openings at the rearward endsof a pair of reversely bent arms 38 (see Figs. 1 and 2), the forwardends of which are rotatable on the pin 24. The upper end of the hairpinspring 32 is pivotally connected with the enlarged headed end-of ahorizontal spring actuated rod 40, the spring 42 on which is compressedbetween the head of the rodand a plate having cars at its lower endriveted to the arms 38 and an opening at its upper end to receive therod 40. To limit the expansion of the spring 42 and to hold the feedfeet 30 in fixed position while disengaged from the carpetedges,

the rod 40 has at its rearward end a pair of check nuts 46 cooperatingwith the plate 44. 'The arrangement is such that when the feed'feet arepressed against carpet edges engaging the feed slides 28 they will swingyieldingly with the carpet edges and when disengaged from the carpetedges they will be returned to their starting positions. The yieldingaction of the hairpin spring 32 allows the presser feet to moveindividually toward each other as the carpet edges engaged byin themachine and partly by forward pressureon the control handles 2 and 4. Incase the car pet strips are not accurately located with relation to eachother or the machine is not centered properly between them asupplementary pulling action may be applied or the pulling means ren"-dered inoperative selectively to assist thejfeed of the strips bydownward pressure on-the manual The stitches are inserted controlhandles2 and The handles extend-.- upwardly at an angle of approximately 30 tothe floor surface and are provided with fixture;

arms 48 pivotally mounted at their forwardends on a shaft 50 extendingtransversely to the direction. of feed through the hollow column Ill.The handles are braced against horizontal swinging movement as a resultof possible looseness or fiexure about their pivotal mountings by theengagementwith the column of perforated lugs on the arms 48 whichreceive pins 52 passing directional control of the machine is assured.

The arms 48 are provided with arcuate guideways 58 to which are clampedslides 58 and on which are rotatably supported upper pulling rolls 60.The upper pulling rolls 6|] are disposedop posite lower pulling rolls 62rotatably mounted; within the base 5, with the upper most portions oftheir peripheriesprojecting through slots at either side in the outershell of the base inadvance of the point engaged-by the feed slidesp ZQand feet l8 and 30. The upper rolls 66 act upon the carpet strips closeto their edges to press 1 them against the lower rolls 62 which aredriven from within the base. The action of the upper pulling andpressing roll 60, therefore, is to as- ""sist in the feed of the carpetstrips by forcing the' carpet strips into frictional engagement with thelower driven rolls 62. ing rolls are raised the lower driven rolls arerenderedinoperative and ride idly along the under"- surface of thestrips without exerting any pulling action.

'Each lower pulling roll 62 is mounted for rota than upon a short shaft64 (see Figs. 9 to 11," inclusive) secured in lugs extending downwardly"from the'outer shell of the base 6 at either 'sideof the slot throughwhich the roll projects. mounting shafts 64 are arranged at an angle toeach other and to the direction of feeding move-" ment imparted to thecarpet strips to 'causeth'e rolls to have a component pulling action inthe direction of feed and a drawing action in a 'direcv tion transverseto the feed. v

To insure that the carpet strip material will notbe subject to excessiveabrasion from the eo'pulling rolls, the lower driven rolls 62 areprovided with axial corrugations and the upper pressing rolls withcircumferential corrugations, When the'angular position of the pressingrolls f is adjusted on the fixture arms 48 to positions different fromthose of' the driven rolls 62 the circumferential corrugations will gripthe sheet material to produce a predominant effect in giving directionto the pulling action, the strip material sliding axially in thedirection of the corrugations in the driven rolls 62.

During operation of the machine with the carpet strips accuratelydisposed in abutting relation upon a floor surface there is no necessityfor bringing into operation the pulling rolls 6B, 62 65 and the handles2, 4 are held raised to disengage,

the pressing rolls from the carpet strips. Movement of the machineprogressively between the carpet edges is then produced by theaction'of' the feed slides and feed feet, little or no effort on thepart of the operator being required to maintain steady progress. Whenone or both of the carpet strip however, have been somewhat displacedfrom accurate abutting relation it may be necessary to depress eitherof. the handles and 76' bring the pressing rolls against the carpetstrips,

When the upper pull- The 7 1 drawing them; transversely: of thedirection: of? feed toward: each other so that: when they: reach thefeed. slides, proper: feeding movement is insured.

The mechanism for actuating the driven pulling rolls 62 cmprisesaratchetlwheel 66' secured toone end ofeach roll; a driving pawl 68engagingeach ratchet wheel and spring-pressed detents i0 pivotallymounted at 1-2 on downwardly extending lugs on the base 6; Each pawl 68is pivotally. mounted on a bolt l4 secured to an arm 'ldrotatableloosely onthe shaft 64 of each driven roll 62-. Each bolt H hasprojecting from one end a spherical head surrounded by a socket at oneend of a link 18= The other end of each link lilissimilarlyconnected bymeans of a socket surrounding the ball headed end of a bolt 80 securedto an-arm 82 extending downwardly from a horizontal rock shaft 84rotatable in the base 8 carrying both' arms 82. Rocking movement of theshaft-ilfi-imparts a swinging movement to the I arms-16; causing thepawls 68"to rotate the ratchet wheelstfi, each bolt 14 carrying a spring86 acting; to keep the pawl in engagement with its ratchet wheel. Duringreturn idlemovement of each pawl 68 the detents- Hi prevent reverserotation of] the ratchet wheels, thus insuring continuousstep-by-steprotation of the driven rolls 62'.

As best-shown in Fig. 17; the stitch forming devices of the machineinclude a curved eyepointed needle 88 secured to a segmental arm 98projecting from an inclined hollow shaft 92 rotatably mounted in thebase withits needle supporting-end directed downwardly toward thetapering and trailing end of-thebase. The needle shaft 92" is so mountedthat the needle oscillates across the trough 12 close to the presserfoot l8, thus insuring that the carpet edges will be intersected by theneedle and clamped close to the, sewing point. In the constructionillustrated; the inclination of the needle shaft 92' is the same as theinclination of the tapered shell of the base ,within the trough l2 ,sothat full advantage is taken of thespace within the base foraccommodation of the actuating connections for the needle.

Cooperating with the needle is a straight reciprocating thread carryinglooper 94 secured to a. block 96 pinned to. a rod 93 slidingly mountedwithin the hollow needle shaft 92'. The looper rod,9,8 extends throughthe, shaft, 82 and at its opposite end carries a short rack bar. Hi0(see. Fig. 5) meshing with segmental teeth on :mearmv of a. bell cranklever I92 fulcrumed' on a cross shaft (B4 having its ends fixed withinthe column Hi. When the needle is at the end of its extreme workpenetrating stroke aloop of looper thread is; passed through the loopcarried by theneedle. and the looper is moved into the range of athread. arm 106 secured to a shaft lfl8.rotatably mounted in the base inparallel relation to the inclined. needle shaft Q2 at one side thereof.The hook of thethread arm l 68 is arranged to engage one side of theloopof looper thread so that during the. next penetrating stroke of theneedle the loop of looper thread will be held in the needle path asillustrated in Fig. 14. After the needle. has com pleted its workpenetrating stroke the looper. again enters a new loop of needle threadpre-' sentedto it, as in Figs. 13 and '7, to initiate the formation ofthe succeeding stitch. To prevent rotation of thellooper shaft the block96is slotted. atits outer end and surrounds the thread finger shaft.188.

Referring to Fig. 15, in the illustrated form: of seam. inserted by; thestitch forming devices,.,the

floor engaging surface of the abutting stripv i ii? This is' the resultof the needle entering and emerging from thefioor engaging surfaces ofbotlr strips without rising'above the thickness. or-pile of the strips-This typeof seam will, therefore,

close up the pile between carpet strips so sewn to form acontinuousexposed surface.

To prevent bulging at-either side of the abutting edges-on the carpetstrips, reinforcement is applied to the-floor engaging surface of theseam.

The-reinforcementconsists of a tape l l Bled from:-

above the strips, through the space between the separated edges of thestrips and beneath theedges of the-carpet strips in advance of theseing' point. This-tape is composed of thin wovenfabric and preferablyisprovided with alatent-or pressure sensitive adhesive.

To; lead reinforcing tape beneath the stripedges it is conducted throughproperly arranged guides I20; best shown in Figs. 4-and 5, fromasupplyreel I22 mounted at the upper part of the.- machine' on: pedestals 1-24extending from. the; column Id (see Fig. 1).

I2B'secured to the pedestals and the tapeis led through a slot in theside of the-pan-and through an angularly disposed guide i28 rivetedtothe pan at one side of the slot.- With the use ofa reinforcing tape inthe seam a securefasteningis obtained'on the fabric'por-tionofthecarpet, botlr above it to prevent separation of the. carpet pile andbelow it-to prevent bulging of the carpet" alongthe sides of the seam.It is particularly advantageous to use a reinforcing tape whererelatively heavy tensions are applied to the sewing thread, the tapeacting to hold the seam in flattened condition.

The re-enforcing tape H8 is led beneath th centering fin and the feedslides; For this pur-- pose the shell of the base is slotted at l29-(see- Figs. 4-and 5) and the block I4 is grooved along 16 fits overandcloses thegroove onthe block- M to form a cover for the tape. The tapeH8 emerges fromthe'groovein the block beyond the. trailing ends of thefeed slides 28'where i-trises to the. level'of thetrough 12 (see Fig.19).

For tensioning the threads they are ledifrom a suitable source of supplythrough tension de-' vices. I30 and I32 (see Figs. 17' and 19). Both.

these tension devices consist of a pair of spring presseddi'sksmountedupon reversely bent metal.v

straps l3lljse'cured within the base 6. The supply threads. areconductedto the tension devices I30. and I32 through a pair of parallel tubes[3.6:- extending from the trailing end, of the base to theleading end.thereof and upwardly througha supply bracket. 138 into. the centralopenings of a. pair of hollow spindles I40, secured-to the bracket.

I38. The bracket I38 is bolted to the-leadingend. of. the base-6. and isformedwitha pair-of circular platforms on;which are supported tubularthread;

supply cops; I42 surrounded by sleeves I44 fixed.

toetheir respective platforms, the thread leading;

fromthe. outer surfaces of the-.cops-through-the; hollowspindlesand theconducting tubes I36;

The mechanisms foractuating the stitch forming, work clamping. andfeeding devices project-v fromthebaseand are mounted at the upper. endofthe column-J0 with their connectionsrunning;

moreor less. vertically. into the base; at i a location The supply reell22 is laid in a flat position within a shallow holder pan.

The plate the stitch forming devices.

. portion of the column I0. rods I10 and I88 will move freely'within thebetween the ends of the base 6, the connections -being surrounded by thecolumn I8 which is located in advance of the point of operation of Thereis rotatably mounted in the column about an axis inclined somewhat fromthe horizontal and parallel to the needle shaft 92 a cam shaft l46. Thecam shaft has secured thereon a pair of slotted cams I48 and a pair ofopen cams I50. The cam shaft I46 is driven through a set of reducinggears I52 from an electrical motor I54 mounted at the top of the columnI0. Thus, all of the power applying and actuating mechanisms are mountedon the column above the level of the carpet edges at a position wherethe operation'of the mechanisms may be observed readily and adjustedconveniently by the machine operator.

' I58 carried by a plate-like bell crank I58 (see Fig. 12) rotatable ona fulcrum shaft I60 secured in the upper portion of the column I0. Thebell crank has a horizontal arm to which is pivotally connected a pairof vertical links I62 also pivotally connected to a swivel-block I64having reduced ends engaging perforations in the arms 38.

For applying downward pressure to the feed feet- 30 the horizontal armof the bell crank has an opening to receive a pin I66 passing through aslotted block I68 at the lower end of a spring pressed rod I10. The rodI10 is surrounded by a compression spring I12 acting on the block I68 atits lower end and on a threaded sleeve I13 at its upper end. The sleeveI13 is supported in a threaded opening of a projecting portion of thecolumn I and is provided at its upper end with a knurled collar formanual rotation.

The mechanism for actuating the clamping foot is similar to themechanism for actuating the feed feet 30. Engaging the other open camI50 I is a follower roll I14 on a platelike bell crank I16 rotatable onthe fulcrum shaft I60. The bell crank I16 has a horizontal arm pivotallyconnected to the upper ends of a pair of vertical links I18, the lowerends of which are pivotally connected to an upstanding lug on a yokeI80.

' zontal arm of the bell crank I16 carries a pivot I84 (see Fig. l)-passing through a slotted block I86 fixed to the lower end of a springpressed rod I88. The rod I88 has surrounding it a compression spring I90acting at its lower end against the block I86 and at its upper endagainst a threaded sleeve I92 engaging a threaded opening in. a Toinsure that the sleeves I12 and I92 the upper ends of the rods areprovided with spherical enlargements fitting needle includes the rearcam I48, a follower roll I96 carried by a bell crank I98, the Shape of;;10 which will be indicated hereinafter, rotatable on the fulcrum shaftI60. The bell crank I98 hasa. horizontal arm pivotally connected to theupper end of a link 200, the lower end of which has a slottedenlargement (see Fig. 6) to one side of which is fixed a rack bar 202meshing with a pinion 204 fixed to the needle shaft 92. The slottedenlargement is of sufficient size to admit the needle shaft and is of alength to cause proper rotation of the needle shaft when the link 200 isreciprocated. r

The mechanism for actuating the looper acts to reciprocate the rod 98through-the rack bar I00, the toothed bell crank lever I02 for which hasconnected at either side a tension spring 206 to insure proper meshbetween the teeth thereon. The connections for this mechanism include alink 208 pivotally connected at its lower end with the bell crank leverand at its upper end with a bell crank lever 2I0 carrying a followerroll 2I2. The follower roll 2I2 engages a slot in the fore most cam I48.

The thread arm actuating mechanism coinprises the shaft I08 to which thethread armis secured, a D-shaped arm 2I4 (Figs. 7 and 8) secured to theforward end of the shaft in such angular relation that the looper rod 98passes through the "opening in the arm, and a link 2| 6 pivotallyconnected at its lower end to the arm 2I4 and reversely bent to avoidcontact with the looper rod 98. The upper end of the link 2| 6 ispivotally connected to the horizontal arm of a bell crank 2 I8 having afollower roll 220 engaging a slot in the rearward cam I48.

To actuate the drivenpulling rolls 62 mechanism is provided includingthe shaft 84 on the central part of which is fixed an arm 222 havingpivotally connected to it the lower end of a link 224, the upper end ofwhich is connected to a bell crank 226. The outline of the bell crank226 is indicated in Fig.3 and is illustrative of the shapes of the otherbell cranks on the fulcrum shaft I60 including the bell cranks I98 and2I0. The bell crank 226 carries a follower roll 228 engaging a slot intheforward cam I48.

To actuate the feed slides 28 they are formed with toothed enlargementsalong their undersurfaces, the teeth of which mesh with teeth oninterrupted pin'ions 230 -meshing in turn with those on the uppersurface of a sliding bar 232 retained within a guideway 234 (see Fig. 9)on the lower shell wall of the base. The sliding bar 232 at its forwardend has secured to it a toothed block 236 (see Fig; 5) meshing with gearteeth out in the hub of the arm 222. The pinions 230 act to reverse themovement of the sliding bar 232 and to cause both the pulling rolls andthe feed slides to act in feeding the carpet strips at the same timeduring each sewing cycle.

To enable edge portions of carpet strips to be released or inserted inthe machine with their edges in abutting relation at the sewing point inpreparation for a sewing operation, the feed and presser feet are raisedmanually together. This the shaft (see Fig. 2). When the eccentric shaftis in h p s iiqn. of F s-y lhapresse and fee essence-r 11 feet operate:in the usual manner to clamp the zcarpetistri-ps. When the lever 242 isrotated 180 i'iJhBfbell cranks I58'and I 1 6 are bothrockedsiinultaneouslylin a clockwise. direction.

After :a seam is completed the presser andfeed feet are againira'isedmanually from engagement with the carpet strips to release them and thefinal loop of looper thread is severed within :its big-ht to preventunraveling of the seam upon removal of the carpet strips from 'themachine.

For this purpose the machine is provided with a thread cuttercooperatingwith the thread arm 4106. When the thread arm is given amanual "supplemental movement the thread is carried against'zastationary knife blade 2'46 (seeFig. l7) .zmount'ed inside the upperwall of the base 6. To

zgivtethe thread arm its supplemental thread cutting movement the threadarmactuating 'slot'in :thezre'ar cam 148 isformed with an enlarged.ipcrtionM-lbf a width greater than that of the :cam roll 220. The bellcranki2 I8 is provided with an upstanding handle 248 (see Fig. 3) toenable a the thread arm. to be moved manuallywhen the oam-shaft is in'aposition with the roll engaging the-enlarged portion .24! of the camslot. The

"enlarged portion of the slot isi'so located in the 1 08.111that'the-looper and'thread arm will be in proper cooperative relationtoinsure'the desired results when the-thread arm is given its supplementalmovement. Accordingly, when the handle 248 is moved outwardly the threadwill 'be carried .against the cutting edge of the knife 246. The

sewn @carpet strips are then removed fromthe machine, withdrawing withthem a length of needle thread which may :be'broiren or severed in .anyconvenient manner. The end of looper thread remains in the-machine andis withdrawn from the last formed needlerlo'op with the result that theseveredend connected to the seam will Flock the last formed stitch.

The weight of :the -machine'iis so proportioned that .at least half ofits weight will rest upon the tapered trailing end of the base "6.'The'trailing end ofthe baseis of a width togive stability to themachine when resting upona horizontalfloor surface whileithecasters :H:enable the machine 'to move easily along the .floor surface without.undue friction. The t-mounting shaft 50 for the :handlesZ and- 4 islocated directly above'the casters '1 4 isothat'a component-of downwardpressure on the handles will not add 'to the frictional resistance ofthe machine along the floor-surface.

.EIhe machineis of relatively light construction and maybe-movedandcontrolled readily merely byforwardpressure against thehandles.

To start and stop themachineandto control .interrupting the motorcircuit. .A'lso-entering the .upper endof the handle 4 below the'jgrip250 is a power supply cable 253, the connections for which pass througha lengthwise opening in the handle beside the cablei256. When'itisneces- :sary to'adjust or thread the "stitchxformin'g de- -vices, accessis provided within the base 6 by removing adetach'able'cover 260., Thecover "260 surrounds the stitch forming devices and guards them fromcontact with the'carpet strips during sewing. The shape of the 'cover issuch that it forms a continuation of the surfaceon the base,

ill)

providing a substantial propor.tion of the trou '12. The cover alsois'jper-forated toadmitthe vneed'le during its workgpenetra-ti-ngstroke. The parts accessible upon removing the cover are indicated inFig. 19..

With the use of the machine all necessity for sewing a limited number ofcarpet strips together at a factory or servicing agency is eliminated.The carpet to be applied to-a particular floor surface may be shippedentirelyin the-form of rolls which are readily handled by regulartransporation facilities. With the present machine it is necessary onlyto lay carpetstrips upon'a floor surface, the machine itself movingalong the floor surface in any required direction to accomplish the:final adjustment of the edges into abutting relationship with their:designs in alinement under simple and effective control bythemachineoperator. When it is desired to-draw one ofthe strips more thanthe otheror to turn the machine slightly to bring itinto better al-inementwiththe "edges of the strips inadvance-of the sewing point .a slightdownward movement of one-of the operating handles will initiatethedrawing action -:of the pulling rolls on one carpet'strip or theother. If the machine is manually retarded in its rollfeeding'movementthe car-pet strip to which the pull is applied will bedrawn edge-wise along :the floor surface whereas if the-machine is givena iorward movement by fcrwardpressure on the handles the pull exerted bythe :pulling rolls will be imparted more nearly in thedirectionef .feed,thus providing effectivecontrolon both the carpet strips and themovements of the machine.

'the edge fportionsof fiexiblesheet material d-i'sindeed on a supportingsurface, saidmaehine being arranged to traverse said surface in "aprogressive :ma'nner and-'comprising a shallow .base

. for raising the edge portionsof the'mate'rialop- 'erated upon fromthesupporting surface engagfing side thereof, in combination with acomplete set of fastening devices mounted wholly within said "base,constructed and arranged to apply fastenings to the raised portions ofsheet material concealed at the supporting surface engaging sidethereof.

2. A'ambulant machine "for fastening together the edge portions offlexible sheet material disposed on 'a 'supportingsurface, said machinehaving a shallow base, wedge shaped at its advancing'end to raise theedge portions of the sheet material from the supporting surface,'with atrailing end of tapering "thicl'rri'ess, in combination with fasteningand feeding devices in'the taper- "ing end of'the base constructed andarranged toap ly fastenings to "the raised portions of the sheetmaterial and to 'feedthem'aterial relatively to the machine "as thefastenings are inserted, and actuating mechanisms for'the fastening andfeeding devices projecting *from the'base and having connections spacedfrom the point of application of the fastening devices in line with theedge portions of thesheet material at the point where the fasteningdevices operate.

3. An ambulant machine for fastening together the edge portions offlexible sheet material disposed on a supporting surface, said machinehaving a shallow base, wedge shaped at its advanc- =ing end to raise theedge portions of the'sheet 'material from the supporting surface, with atrailing end of tapering thickness, in combinar tion with fastening andfeeding devices in the tapering end of the base constructed and arrangedto insert fastenings within the raised portions of the sheet materialand to feed the material relatively to the machine as the fasteningsareinserted, actuating mechanisms for the fastening and feeding devicesprojecting from the base and having connections spaced from the point ofapplication of the fastening devices in line with the edge portions ofthe sheet material at the point where the fastening devices operate, anda narrow column along the mid-section of "the base surrounding theconnections and pro- I viding a mounting for the actuating mechanisms.

the edge portions of flexible sheet material-disposed on a supportingsurface, said machine having a shallow base, wedge shaped at itsadvancing end to raise the edge portions of the sheet 'material from thesupporting surface, with atrailing end of tapering thickness, incombination with fastening and feeding devices in the tapering end ofthe base constructed and arranged to insert fastenings within the raisedportions of the sheet material and to feed the material relatively tothe machine as the fastenings are inserted, and actuating mechanisms forthe fastening and feeding devices projectingfrom the base and havingconnections spaced from the point of application of the fasteningdevices in" machine having fastening devices and mechanisms foractuating the fastening devices in a progressive manner along the edgesof the strips, in combination with a shallow base within which saiddevices are mounted, said base being wedge shaped at its advancing endfor raising the edges of the strips from the supporting surface, anarrow column rising from the mid-section of the base of a length alongthe strip edges less than 'that of the base, on which the actuatingmechanisms for said devices are mounted and of a width transversely ofthe edges to fit between the raised edges of the strips during passageof the mid-section of the base along the supporting surface, andclamping feet individually movable toward each other, acting along thetrailing-portion of the base and projecting beyond, the column to drawthe strips edgewise against each other toward the point of operation ofthe fastening devices.

6. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, said machine havingstich-forming devices acting in a progressive manner along the edges ofsaid strips, in combination with a hollow base within which said devicesare mounted, said base being wedge shaped at its advancing end forraising the edges of the strips from the .fioor surface with a taperingthickness at its trailing end having a trough within which the,

- separate carpet engaging members guided along 4. An ambulant machinefor fastening togetherr stitch forming devices operate and "mechanismfor actuating said devices having connections passing into said basebetween its ends and in advance of the point of operation of saiddevices.

7. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, said machine having stitchforming devices actin in a progressive manner along the edges of saidstrips,'in combination with a hollow base within which said devices aremounted, said'base being wedge shaped along its advancing end forraising the edges of the strips from the floor surface with a taperingthickness along its trailing end having a trough within which the stitchforming devices operate, and

converging paths in the base at the sides of the trough to feed theedges against each otheralong the trough.

8. A machine for sewing together stripsof carpet disposed with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, said machine having stitchforming devices acting in a progressive manner alon the edges of thestrips, in combination with a hollow base within which said devices aremounted, said base being wedge shaped at its advancing end for raisingthe edges of the strips from the floor surface with a tapering thicknessalong its trailing end having a trough within which the stitch formingdevices operate, a pair of carpet feeding members mounted in the troughof the'base and angularly disposed guideways for the carpet engagingmembers for guiding the movements of said members in converging paths tofeed the carpet edges with a drawing'action toward each other along thetrough.

9. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, said machine having stitchforming devices acting in a progressive manner along the carpet edges,in combination withra hollow base within which said devices are mounted,said base being wedge shaped along its advancing end for raising theedges of the strips from the floor surface'with a tapering trailing endhaving a trough within which the stitch forming devices operate, a pairof carpet feeding members, angularly disposed guideways in the trough ofthe base for guiding the movements of said members in paths convergingtoward each other, and a pair of individually movable feet cooperatinwith the carpet engaging members arranged to move toward each other withsaid members for feeding the edges of the carpetw'with a drawing actiontoward each other along the trough.

10. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a curved needle and machanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices in a pro gressive manner along the edges of the strips,in combination with a hollow base formed with a trough across which theneedle oscillates, means acting close to the sewing point to clamp theedges of the carpet strips within the trough, and a narrow column onwhich the actuating mecha- :zgcamsav :upnn :a ifioor surface, havingstitch forming defo'r actuating the stitch forming :devices :in'a

progressive manneralong the edges of the strips, in combination with .ahollow base formed with a trough alined with the :direction of progressof the strips across which the needle oscillates, imeans acting close tothe sewin point to clamp the edges of the .carpet strips "within thetrough, :anarrow column onwhich the actuating mechanisms are mounted,alined with the trough and -the point of needle operation, and devicesfor feeding the carpet edges'away from the column.

.512. A machine :for sewing together strips of narpet disposed withedges in abutting relation .upon a floor surface, having stitch formingdevices including :a curved needle and mechanisms :foractuatirigthe'stitch forming devicesgin combination with a hollow base formed witha trough "across which the needle oscillates, .means acting closeto'thesewing point'tc clamp the edges of fiche-carpet strips within thetrough, ainarrow colxumn on which the actuating mechanisms are mounted,alined with the trough, and devices 101' feeding the carpet edgesrelatively to the base, comprising a-pa'ir ofcarpet engaging mem- :bersmounted for movement in paths converging towardeach other alon the sidesof the trough.

:13.A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding "a curved needle and mechanisms =ior actuatin the stitchforming devices, in combination with'a hollow base formedwith a troughacross which the needle'oscillates, means acting close to thesewingpointto clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough, a narrowcolumn on which the actuating mechanisms are mounted, alined with thetrough, devices for feeding the-carpet edges relatively to the base,comprising .a pair of carpet engagin members mounted for movemnt in pathconverging to- "Ward each other along the sides of the trough, and feedfeet cooperating with the carpet engag- .in'g members to clamp thecarpet strips.

14. A machine for sewing together strips of :carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a-curve'd needle and mechanisms foractuating-the'stitchforming devices, in commounted, alined with thetrough, devices for-feeding the carpet edges relatively to the base,comprising a pair of carpet engaging members mounted for movement inpaths converging toward "each other along the sides of the trough, feedfeet cooperating with the carpet Fengaging membersrto clampthe carpetstrips and yielding mountings "for said feetto enable them to move"toward each other asthe'carpet engagingmembersmoveialong theirconvergin paths.

'15. A machine for sewing "together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a curved needle and mechanisms ioriactuating'thestitchiormingdevices, in com- *bination with a hollow'base formed with a troughacross which the needle oscillates, means cacting close to the sewingpoint to clamp the edges of 'the carpet strips within the trough, anarrow column on which the actuating mechanisms are mounted, alined"with the :trough, .rdevicesiforztced e :ing the carpet edges relativelyto the base, comprising apair of carpet engagingmembersrmounted formovement in paths converging towardleach other along the sides of thetrough, feed feeticooperating with the carpet engaging members .to clampthe carpet strips and a presser zfoot Eior securing the carpet stripsduring back feeding movement of the feed feet.

16. A machine for sewing together strips :of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices, inrcombination with ahollow base formedwith a troughacross whichtheneedle oscillates, means acting close to the sewing pointto clamp the edges nf column on which the actuating mechanismsmremounted, alined with the trough, devices for feeding the carpet edgesrelatively to the base, comprising a pair of carpet engaging :membersmounted for movement in paths converging ato- -ward each other along thesides ofwthe trough, feed feet cooperating with the carpet enga ingmembers to clamp the carpet strips, a :presser foot for securing thecarpet strips during back feeding movement of the feed feet and-individual springs 'for urging the feed and presser :feet against thecarpet strips.

17. A machine for sewing together strips -10! carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch formingdevicesincluding a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices, in 'combination with a hollow base formed with 'atrough across which the needle oscillates, means acting close to thesewing point to clamp the edges :01

the carpet strips within the trough, a narrow column'on which theactuating mechanisms are mounted, alined with the trough, devices .iorfeeding the carpet edges relatively to thefbase, comprising carpetengaging members movable in the direction of feed, feet for clamping thecarpet strips against said members and gpullingrolls acting on thecarpet in advance of .the point engaged by said members to assist in theifeed of the carpet strips.

18. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abuttting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch formingdevices including a curved needle and mechanisms 'for actuating thestitch forming devices, in combination with ahollow base formed with atrough across which-th needle oscillates, means acting close to thesewing point to clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough,a narrow column on which the actuating mechanisms ,are mounted, alinedwith the trough, devices for feeding the carpet edges relatively to thebase comprisin pulling rolls acting on the carpet in ;ad vance of thepoint engaged by said members ito feed the carpet strips, and manuallycontrolled handles for selectively renderin the pulling rollsinoperative.

'19. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting/relation upon a floor surface, having stitch 'formingdevices including a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating thestitch forming devices, combination with a hollow'base formed with atrough across which the needle oscillates, means acting close to thesewing point to clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough,a

narrow column on which the actuating mechacarpet disposed with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming -devicesincluding a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating the stitchformin'g devices, oombination with a hollow base formed-vvi-th-a troughacross which the needle oscillates; means acting close to the sewingpoint to clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough, anarrow column' onwhich the -actuating mechanisms are mounted, alinedwith the trough, devices for feeding the carpet edges relatively to thebase comprising pulling rolls acting on the carpetin advance-of thepoint engaged by said members to feed the carpet strips, manuallycontrolled and separately'movablehandles for guiding the'movements ofthe machine betweenithe carpet edges, and mounting shafts for the rollsoperatively connected to the handles to enable the rolls to be renderedinoperative selectively.

21. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a fioor surface, having stitch forming devices including a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices, in combination with a hollow base formed with a troughacross which the needle oscillates, means acting close to the sewingpoint to clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough, anarrow column on which the actuating mechanisms are mounted, alined withthe trough, devices for feeding the carpet edges relatively to theba's'ecomprising pulling rolls acting on the carpet'in advance of the pointengaged by said members to feed the carpet strips, a handle for guidingthe movements of the mechi-ne between the car-pet strip edges, ahorizontal s'haf-t'ex'tending' trans versely to the direction of feed ofthe machine on which the handle is mounted, and a mounting shaft for oneof the rollson the handle to enable said roll to be rendered selectivelyoperative or inoperative.

'22. A machine for sewing together strips'of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon afioor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a needle and mechanisms for actu'ating the stitch' formingdevices, in combination with a hollow base formed with a trough at oneend intersected by the needle, a narrow col-- umn' on which theactuating mechanisms are mounted alined with the trough, devicesforfeeding the carpet relatively to'the base "toward the trough comprisingtwo pairs-of pulling rolls; one pair at each side of the base,'a handleateach'side of the base on which one of each pair of pulling thematerial against the driven .Ijdll .andlbe g.

18 in combination-with n movable shallow base within which an otsa'iddevices are mounted to enable i astening's to be inserted fromthesu-pporting surface engaging side 0f the maiteriaL -a "rollengaging astrip or -rnaterial at one side or the base for drawing the edge of thatstrip toward the edge or the other strip and mechanism for actuating theroll to pull the machine along the strips in the direction of progressor the fastening devices.

'24; A ma hine for fa'stening together strips -=of flexiblesheet-material disposed upon asuppor-ting surface, having fasteningdevice's acting progressivelyalong :the edges-of the-strips, incombination with a-movabl'e shallow 'base' on said sur'fa'ce withinwhich all of said devices are mounted toenable fastening-s to be"inserted trom the supporting surface sweet the materia-Lrolls ateither-side of the bas'e and mechanism for -ac--' tuating the rolls todr the *edge'sof the material into'abutti-hg relation with each otherand topull=the machine along in "the direction o f progress of thefasteningdevi'ces.

"25'. -A *machine for -fastening together "strips of flexiblesheet-material disposed upon a support in'gsurface, having fasteningdevice's'iacting'alohg the edges-of the'strips, -in"co1'nbi-hation witha, shallow base within which said devices are mounted to enablefastenings tobe insertedfro'rn the supportingsur'facersideof thematerial, pulla ing rolls at either side of the base :to draw the edgesof thematerialtoward each othenand hah'e' dles for engaging ordisengaging the rollsselec j t'ively'fromthes'trips.

V 26; A machine for fastening together strips or;

flexible sheet materialdi'SPOSEClflIIJOII a support: ingsurface,ihaving'fastening;devices acting along the edges of the" strips, in"combination with a shallow base within which said .de vices are mountedto enable fasteningsfto be'insertedirom th etsuppiorting surface side ofthe material, apull-y ing roll engaging 'a strip of material at eachside of the base *ior drawing. the edge :of 'OIlQ'StIiD to ward the edgeof the other strip, handles for engaging ordisengaging the :rollsselectively from the; strip, and amounting :for the rolls on the handlescomprising arcuate guid'eways and slides; on the 'guid'e'ways to changethe angles at which. therolls act. 2'7. A machine for'fast'ening'to'gether strips o'f ,fiexib le sheet material disposed upona support ing surface,j"hai rin'g "fastening devices actingalong theedges of the strips, in combination with a shallow "base within which.isaid devices are mounted to 'enablerfastenings to be inserted mm. thesupporting surface side of said materiaha'nd ch r f pulling jroll f, onewithin the base and the other above the base atoneside thereof fordrawing one strip toward the other, one of said rolls being driven and'formedwit h axial cforru-j' gations and'th'e' other of said rolls actingtopress".

formed with Circumferential corrugations give; direction to he'puningaction, and means Ior ad; ustin'g' the angle of the pressing. rollwithirela tion'to'the driven roll. 7

218. .A' machine for fastening together strips of flexible sheetmaterial disposed upon a support ing surface, havingfastening.devicestacting along the-edgesof -thefstrips, in combinationwith a. shallow base within which said devices care. mounted toenablefastenings @to beinsertedlfrom the su porting. surface .side of.said materliaLQ-a pair of pulling rolls, ,one within; the base andthe,other above the base at. onesidethereof .for .draw:-

ing one strip toward the other, one of said rolls being driven andformed with axial corrugations and the other of said rolls acting topress the material against the driven roll and being formed withcircumferential corrugations to give direction to the pulling action,and means for adjusting the angle of the pressing roll with relation tothedriven roll comprising an arcuate guideway and a slide on theguideway for rotatably supporting the pressing roll.

- 29. A machine for. fastening flexible material, having fasteningdevices, in combination with a base for the fastening devices and a pairof pulling rolls for feeding the material past the fastening devices andfor drawing the material in a direction transverse to the feed, one ofsaid rolls being driven and formed with axial corrugations and the otherof said rollsacting to press the material against the driven roll andbeing formed with circumferential corrugations to give direction to thepulling action, and means for adjusting the angular relation of thepressing roll with respect to the driven roll.

30. A machine for fastening flexible material, having fastening devices,in combination with a base for the fastening devices and a pair ofpulling rolls for feeding the material past the fastening devices andfor drawingthe material in a direction transverse to the feed, one ofsaid rolls being driven and formed with axial corrugations and the otherof said rolls acting to press the material against the driven roll andbeing formed with circumferential corrugations to give direction to thepulling action, and'means for adjusting the angular relation of thepressing roll with respect to the driven roll comprising an arcuateguideway and a slide releasably clamped on the guideway for rotatablysupporting the pressing roll.

31. A machine for fastening together strips of flexible sheet materialdisposed upon a supporting surface, having fastening devices actingalong the edges of the strips, in combination with a shallow base withinwhich said devices are mounted to enable fastening's' to be insertedfrom the supporting surface side of said material, a pair of pullingrolls, one within the'base and the other above the base at one sidethereof for drawing one strip toward the other, and a ratchet mechanismwithin the base for driving the roll therein.

32. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devicesincluding a curved needle and mechanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices, in combination with a hollow base formed with a troughacross which the needle oscillates, means acting close to the sewingpoint to clamp the edges of the carpet strips withinthe trough, a narrowcolumn on which the actuating mechanisms are mounted, alined with thetrough, devices for feeding the carpet edges relatively to the basecomprising pulling rolls acting on the carpet. in advance of carpetdisposed with edges in abutting relation.

upon a floor surface, having an eye-pointed needle and other stitchforming devices, incombination with a hollow base formed with a troughacross which the needle moves to penetrate and emerge from the floorsurface sides of the carpet strips, and a thread cutter within the basefor severing thethread to prevent unraveling of the seam upon removal ofthe carpet strips. 34. A machine for sewing together stripsof carpetdisposed with edges in abutting relation upon a floor surface, having aneye-pointed needle, a thread carrying looper and; other stitch formingdevices for inserting a two-thread chain stitch seam, in. combinationwith a hollow base formed with a trough across which the needle. movesto penetrate and emerge from the floor, surface side of the strips and athread cutter in the base for severing the looper thread after beingpassed through a loop of needle thread to, prevent unraveling of theseam inserted whenthe carpet strips are removed from the machine.

35. A machine for sewing together strips of car pet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a ,floor surface, having an eye-pointed needleand other stitch forming devices for inserting a chain stitch scam, incombination with a hollow. base formed with a trough across which the;needle moves to penetrate and emerge from the floor surface sides ofthecarpet strips, and a thread cutter disposed in the base for actionwithin a loop of thread for severing the thread to prevent unraveling ofthe seam upon removal of the carpet strips.

36. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devices,in combination with a hollow base formed with a trough to receive theedges of the carpet strips during sewing, and means acting close to thepoint of sewing operations to clamp the edges of the carpet stripswithin the trough, comprising presser and clamping feet operatingalternatelyagainst the carpet, and manually operable means to raise saidfeet simultaneously to release the carpet strips from the machine.

37. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet with edges inabutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch forming devices,in combination with a hollow base formed with a trough to receive theedges of the carpet strips.

during sewing, and mean acting close to the point of sewing operationsto clamp the edges of the carpet strips within the trough, comprisingpresser and clamping feet operating alternately against the carpet, aneccentric member for raising said feet simultaneously to release thecarpet strips from the machine, and a manually operable lever forrotating said member.

- '38. A machine for sewing together strips'of carpet disposed-withedges in abutting relation upon a floor surface, having a needle andother stitch forming devices acting in a progressive manner along theedges of the strips, in combination with a hollow base formed witha'trough in.

line with the direction of progress of the stitch forming devices,across which trough the needle moves and a detachable cover for thestitch forming devices at the trailing end of the base to provide accessto the base for rethreading.

39. A machine for fastening together strips of carpet disposed withedges in abutting relation upon a floor surface, having fasteningdevices and power driven mechanisms for actuating the fastening devices,in combination with a base formed to receive the edges of the stripsduring fastening, handles for guiding the base along the floor surfaceand a grip on one of the handles operable to control the power drivenmechanism.

40. A machine for fastening together strips of. carpet disposed withedges in abutting relationj upon a floor surface, having fasteningdevices,

and an electrical motor for driving said mechanisms, in combination witha base formed to raise the edges of the strips durin'g fastening,handles for guiding the base along the floor surface, a movable grip onone of the handles and a rheostat for controlling the speed of the motorconnected to said handle grip.

41. A machine for fastening together strips. of flexible sheet materialdisposed with edges in abutting relation upon a supporting surface,having fastening devices acting in a progressive manner along the edgesof said strips, in combination with a supporting surface engaging basewithin which said devices are mounted shaped with a wedge shapedadvancing end for raising the edges of the strips from the supportingsurface and a trailing end of tapering thickness in which the fasteningdevices are mounted to enable fastenings to be inserted from thesupporting surface side of the strip material, and mechanism foractuating the fastening devices including a shaft in the base inclineddownwardly toward the supporting surface at the tapering end of thebase.

42. A machine for sewing together strips of flexible sheet materialdisposed with edges in abutting relation upon a supporting surface,having a curved needle and other stitch forming devices acting in aprogressive manner along the edges of said strips, in combination with asupt porting surface engaging base within which said devices are mountedshaped with a wedge shaped advancing end for raising the edges of thestrips from the supporting surface and a trailing end in which thefastening devices are located to enable the needle to act upon the edgesof the strips passing over the base, mechanisms for actuating the stitchforming devices including a needle supporting shaft in the base inclineddownwardly toward the supporting surface at the trailing end of the baseto enable a formation of a tapering thickness at said trailing end ofthe base.

43. A machine for sewing together strips of flexible sheet materialdisposed upon a supporting surface, having a curved needle, a looper andother stitch forming devices acting in aprogressive manner along theedges of said strips, in combination with a supporting surface engagingbase having a shallow construction of tapering thickness toward one endwithin which end the stitch forming devices are mounted and a wedgeshape at the other end for raising the edges of the strips from thesupporting surface and to enable the needle to act upon the edges of thestrips moving over the base as they are brought toward each other afterbeing raised, and mechanisms for actuating the stitch forming devicesincluding a hollow needle supporting shaft in the base side of the pointof fastening operations to enable an operator to observe the fasteningoperations while guiding the machine.

45. A machine for sewing together strips of carpet disposed with edgesin abutting relation upon a floor surface, having stitch formingdevices, in combination with a hollow base within which said devices aremounted, shaped with a turtle back for raising and separatingv the edgesof the strps from each other and from the floor surface and with atrough within which the stitch forming devices operate to fasten theedges together, and guides for directing a reinforcing tape from abovethe strips between their separated edges and beneath the edges at thepoint of operation of the stitch forming devices.

46. A freely ambulant sewing machine having upwardly extending handlemeans, in combination with a movable base with power driven sewing andfeeding devices constructed and arranged for assisting the propulsion ofthe machine over a floor surface, a complete set of said sewing devicesbeing contained within the base to enable strips of carpet materialdisposed in abutting relation with their tread sides up to be sewntogether with a concealed seam directly on said surface.

4'7. A freely ambulant fastening machine having upwardly extendinghandle means, in combination with power driven fastening and feedingdevices constructed and arranged'for assist ing the propulsion of themachine over a floor surface, all said fastening devices being containedwithin the base to enable strips of carpet material disposed in abuttingrelation on said surface with their tread sides up to be fastenedtogether with a concealed fastening.

48. A machine for fastening together strips of material disposed withedges in abutting relation upon a supporting surface having fasteningand feeding devices, in combination with a hollow base within which saiddevices are mounted. shaped with a turtle back for raising andseparating the edges of the strips from each other and from thesupporting surface and with a trough within which the fastening devicesoperate on the edges of the material, and guides for directing areinforcing tape from. above the strips between their separated edgesand beneath the edges at the point of operation of the fasteningdevices.

MERWIN F. ASHLEY. EDWARD W. FEARING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

